Childhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant method
Abstract Background Epidemiological data on childhood disability are lacking in Low and Middle Income countries (LMICs) such as Malawi, hampering effective service planning and advocacy. The Key Informant Method (KIM) is an innovative, cost-effective method for generating population data on the prev...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0948-z |
| _version_ | 1818533010096521216 |
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| author | Myroslava Tataryn Sarah Polack Linda Chokotho Wakisa Mulwafu Petros Kayange Lena Morgon Banks Christiane Noe Chris Lavy Hannah Kuper |
| author_facet | Myroslava Tataryn Sarah Polack Linda Chokotho Wakisa Mulwafu Petros Kayange Lena Morgon Banks Christiane Noe Chris Lavy Hannah Kuper |
| author_sort | Myroslava Tataryn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Epidemiological data on childhood disability are lacking in Low and Middle Income countries (LMICs) such as Malawi, hampering effective service planning and advocacy. The Key Informant Method (KIM) is an innovative, cost-effective method for generating population data on the prevalence and causes of impairment in children. The aim of this study was to use the Key Informant Method to estimate the prevalence of moderate/severe, hearing, vision and physical impairments, intellectual impairments and epilepsy in children in two districts in Malawi and to estimate the associated need for rehabilitation and other services. Methods Five hundred key informants (KIs) were trained to identify children in their communities who may have the impairment types included in this study. Identified children were invited to attend a screening camp where they underwent assessment by medical professionals for moderate/severe hearing, vision and physical impairments, intellectual impairments and epilepsy. Results Approximately 15,000 children were identified by KIs as potentially having an impairment of whom 7220 (48%) attended a screening camp. The estimated prevalence of impairments/epilepsy was 17.3/1000 children (95% CI: 16.9–17.7). Physical impairment (39%) was the commonest impairment type followed by hearing impairment (27%), intellectual impairment (26%), epilepsy (22%) and vision impairment (4%). Approximately 2100 children per million population could benefit from physiotherapy and occupational therapy and 300 per million are in need of a wheelchair. An estimated 1800 children per million population have hearing impairment caused by conditions that could be prevented or treated through basic primary ear care. Corneal opacity was the leading cause of vision impairment. Only 50% of children with suspected epilepsy were receiving medication. The majority (73%) of children were attending school, but attendance varied by impairment type and was lowest among children with multiple impairments (38%). Conclusion Using the KIM this study identified more than 2500 children with impairments in two districts of Malawi. As well as providing data on child disability, rehabilitation and referral service needs which can be used to plan and advocate for appropriate services and interventions, this method study also has an important capacity building and disability awareness raising component. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:53:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3a048b0c4b949e095a1d2b86d03e3c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:53:02Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3a048b0c4b949e095a1d2b86d03e3c32022-12-22T00:56:09ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312017-11-0117111210.1186/s12887-017-0948-zChildhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant methodMyroslava Tataryn0Sarah Polack1Linda Chokotho2Wakisa Mulwafu3Petros Kayange4Lena Morgon Banks5Christiane Noe6Chris Lavy7Hannah Kuper8International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineInternational Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineBeit Cure International HospitalDepartment of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of MalawiDepartment of Surgery, Opthalmology Unit, College of Medicine, University of MalawiInternational Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineCBMNuffield Department of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Science, Oxford UniversityInternational Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineAbstract Background Epidemiological data on childhood disability are lacking in Low and Middle Income countries (LMICs) such as Malawi, hampering effective service planning and advocacy. The Key Informant Method (KIM) is an innovative, cost-effective method for generating population data on the prevalence and causes of impairment in children. The aim of this study was to use the Key Informant Method to estimate the prevalence of moderate/severe, hearing, vision and physical impairments, intellectual impairments and epilepsy in children in two districts in Malawi and to estimate the associated need for rehabilitation and other services. Methods Five hundred key informants (KIs) were trained to identify children in their communities who may have the impairment types included in this study. Identified children were invited to attend a screening camp where they underwent assessment by medical professionals for moderate/severe hearing, vision and physical impairments, intellectual impairments and epilepsy. Results Approximately 15,000 children were identified by KIs as potentially having an impairment of whom 7220 (48%) attended a screening camp. The estimated prevalence of impairments/epilepsy was 17.3/1000 children (95% CI: 16.9–17.7). Physical impairment (39%) was the commonest impairment type followed by hearing impairment (27%), intellectual impairment (26%), epilepsy (22%) and vision impairment (4%). Approximately 2100 children per million population could benefit from physiotherapy and occupational therapy and 300 per million are in need of a wheelchair. An estimated 1800 children per million population have hearing impairment caused by conditions that could be prevented or treated through basic primary ear care. Corneal opacity was the leading cause of vision impairment. Only 50% of children with suspected epilepsy were receiving medication. The majority (73%) of children were attending school, but attendance varied by impairment type and was lowest among children with multiple impairments (38%). Conclusion Using the KIM this study identified more than 2500 children with impairments in two districts of Malawi. As well as providing data on child disability, rehabilitation and referral service needs which can be used to plan and advocate for appropriate services and interventions, this method study also has an important capacity building and disability awareness raising component.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0948-zChildrenDisabilityImpairmentKey informant methodMalawiPhysical impairments |
| spellingShingle | Myroslava Tataryn Sarah Polack Linda Chokotho Wakisa Mulwafu Petros Kayange Lena Morgon Banks Christiane Noe Chris Lavy Hannah Kuper Childhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant method BMC Pediatrics Children Disability Impairment Key informant method Malawi Physical impairments |
| title | Childhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant method |
| title_full | Childhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant method |
| title_fullStr | Childhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant method |
| title_short | Childhood disability in Malawi: a population based assessment using the key informant method |
| title_sort | childhood disability in malawi a population based assessment using the key informant method |
| topic | Children Disability Impairment Key informant method Malawi Physical impairments |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-017-0948-z |
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